Britany Pacheco-Ivanson will lead a discussion on one of John Hope Franklin's early essays, Edward Bellamy and the Nationalist Movement Among other things she would like us to think about
- Why do you think John Hope Franklin decided to write about this subject in 1938? Since Nationalism had been connected to the National Socialists by this time, why do you think he chose to focus only on Edward Bellamy's contributions and the Nationalist movement up to his death in 1898?
- Why do you think Bellamy used fiction as the medium to promote his social views? Do you think he intended to develop a social and political movement through Looking Backward?
- The Nationalist movement contributed to the Populist cause in 1892 and seemed to be a strong, though brief, force in America. Why do you think it is never mentioned in history classes/textbooks?
- The first club emerged in Boston in 1888 and by February, 1891, there were 165 clubs across the country that rallied around the Nationalist movement. Do you think something like this would be possible today?
